Trio jailed for almost 30 years after Rushden drug arrest uncovers Class A supply chain

Sam Wildman

A Northampton man has been jailed for more than eight years after police swooped on a street drug deal in the county and exposed an organised Class A supply chain.

In November 2014 Steven Ellis, 44, Shaun Davis, 43, and Jack Gentle, 25, were arrested after a quantity of cocaine was seized by police in a Rushden street.

Steven Ellis. NNL-170123-162140005

Further inquiries by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) revealed two further transactions between the group over a four-day period totalling up to half a kilogram of cocaine, worth £14,640.

Even more significantly, what also emerged was Ellis’ involvement in a supply chain dating back to 2012 involving more than 60kg of cocaine supply with other sub-dealers.

At street level purity the cocaine would have been worth more than £3m.

During the investigation, officers attempted to stop Gentle while he drove his Audi along John Street, Rushden.

Jack Gentle. NNL-170123-162118005

But Gentle fled from the car and was stopped at a nearby toilet block where he was attempting to dispose of the car keys down the toilet. A search of his car revealed 122.51g of cocaine.

A subsequent search of his house revealed scales and a further 5.59g of cocaine.

Also seized from the house were 1,195g of drying cannabis and growing plants.

Davis was later arrested and found to be in possession of £1,052 in cash. When Ellis was arrested, officers seized £1,090 from him, and later discovered £2,450 at his home.

Ellis, of Mill Road, Bozeat, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and being concerned in the supply of a Class A drugs.

He was sentenced to nine years and four months for the first count and 13 years and 4 months for the second, to run concurrently. He was also sentenced to eight months for a POCA offence.

Davis, of Woodpecker Drive, Billing Aquadrome, admitted being concerned in the conspiracy to supply of a Class A drugs.